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March 28, 2024
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Spencertown Academy Presents Pablo Shine Latin Jazz Band
May 11
Spencertown, New York–Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents the Pablo Shine Latin Jazz Band on Saturday, May 11 at 8:00pm at the Academy’s Blanche Grubin Auditorium. General admission tickets ($25 public, $20 Academy members) are available via www.spencertownacademy.org.
“Pablo Shine and his band are masters of jazz with a Latin beat, and they’ll be playing the classics as well as originals,” says Wayne Greene, who co-chairs the Academy Music Committee with Michele Quigley. “Whether it’s an Afro-Cuban rhythm, or a Brazilian samba or bossa nova, I expect the audience will be dancing in their seats, and in the aisles!”
Founded in 2018, Pablo Shine Latin Jazz Band’s repertoire includes tunes by Latin jazz legends, such as Cal Tjader, Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, and Tito Puente. Band members include Pablo Shine (conga drums and minor percussion), Rick Altman (songwriter and musical director on vibes), John Dreschler (upright bass), and Paul Anthony Duffy (keyboard).
Pablo Shine was born in Puerto Rico, where he was exposed from an early age to live Latin music. His uncle taught him the basic tumbao—the rhythm that’s the life blood of salsa and Latin jazz. He kept learning the different Afro-Latino rhythms by watching and/or listening to congueros, such as Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barreto, and Eladio Perez. Later, after moving to Kingston, NY, he studied Afro-Cuban folkloric and religious music under master percussionist Nadhir Velez. In addition to his own group, he has played extensively with other local bands, including Passero, Free River, and Stephen Johnson’s Future 350 Nu Bossa.
Rick Altman is a vibes and marimba player, composer, arranger, and music director. His jazz journey began in 1970 with legendary big band vibraphonist Terry Gibbs, who remains Altman’s primary source of information and inspiration.
Upright bass player John Drechsler performs regularly at numerous venues throughout the Hudson Valley and on recordings with many of the area’s exceptional musicians. In addition to playing with the Pablo Shine Latin Jazz Band, he currently performs jazz standards from the American Songbook in a duo format with vocalist Megan Henry.
Keyboard player Paul Anthony Duffy is a jazz musician living in Ulster County, NY. He was born in Ireland, and has been playing piano in bands since he was 12. He is currently working on an album of jazz standards and is employed at the Music Dept. of Bard College as a staff accompanist.
Roots & Shoots Concerts is an ongoing Academy series that showcases artists who reach back to earlier traditions in music (Americana, jazz, blues, rock, and world music) for inspiration while incorporating more recent forms and influences of the present.
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Founded in 1972, Spencertown Academy Arts Center is a cultural center and community resource serving Columbia County, the Berkshires, and the Capital region. Housed in a landmark 1847 Greek Revival schoolhouse, the Academy is located at 790 State Route 203 in Spencertown, New York. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Photo caption:
Pablo Shine Latin Jazz Band (left to right): Rick Altman (songwriter and musical director on vibes), Pablo Shine (conga drums and minor percussion), John Dreschler (upright bass), and Paul Anthony Duffy (keyboard). Photo credit: Strangehouse Media.